As most of you know my mom has cancer. She has had 3 surgeries, a round of Interferon, another of chemo, and six weeks of radiation. She has been poked and prodded and pained. She has lost weight, is swollen, lost her appetite and experiences bouts of fatigue. Although she remains amazingly positive and calm and pragmatic, it must be getting to her.
Recently, after finding out that the cancer may have returned, she and my father boarded a plane to the UK. On this trip they would not only see their daughter and son-in-law but would also meet their brand new grand-daughter.
My mom was determined to go and although we all had our reservations we knew she should. Boy was this the right thing to do. Arriving on her birthday, jetlagged with swollen ankles, everything disappeared as she spotted the little darling. Amazingly, days later she was reporting less pain and fewer symptoms. Could it have been that the hours she spent nuzzled next to this tiny being had given her a renewed strength? I don’t think anyone would deny it.
Simply looking or holding a new life, a fresh little being, so pure, so life-affirming. If there was anything that reinforces how powerful being in the moment of now, it is beholding a baby.
i am a big fan of squeezing babies. i’m so glad your mom got to squeeze one! 😉
I think Kath is on to something! When I took my newborn in to see my grandma in a nursing home the whole building seemed to light up!
What a great idea! As our Grandma would say “why don’t you invent it”? 🙂
My kids’ school has a program called “Roots of Empathy”, where a neighbourhood new mom brings her baby in to visit in a grade one classroom once a month (or so) for a whole year. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a similar program for cancer patients?
I think you are absolutely right Jen. There’s nothing like snuggling with a baby. I’m so glad everyone had a great visit!